"Or-ordinary?"
Ruby was stunned for a moment. He carefully scrutinized Eevee and murmured, "That doesn't make sense… is it some other coordination technique?"
"Alright, stop standing there like an idiot!"
Sapphire slapped Ruby on the back of his head. Wincing in pain, he clutched his head.
"Go help Teacher Lu with the luggage!"
"Ow—why don't you go?"
"I'm a girl!"
"What kind of girl wrestles Donphan barehanded?!"
Watching the two bicker again, Steven shook his head helplessly and turned to Lu Ye.
"Teacher Lu, I do have another matter to trouble you with on this trip."
Lu Ye, deep in thought, silently mocked Ruby.
You're calling others out? Weren't you the five-year-old who outran a Salamence?!
"Of course. Please, go ahead." Lu Ye snapped back to reality, smiling. "It wouldn't have to do with Jirachi, would it?"
Though the comet was indeed related to Jirachi, not every comet could summon a mythical Pokémon. What were the odds of such a coincidence?
"You already know?"
Steven's soft blue eyes showed a trace of surprise before he smiled.
"Well, it's no surprise… I can't hide anything from Teacher Lu."
Lu Ye: ???
"Teacher Lu, have you met Jirachi before?" Sapphire crouched down and asked curiously.
"Uh… isn't that normal?" Ruby sighed. "He's the champion of Donghuang, after all!"
"But… isn't Donghuang's champion Liang Cheng?"
"It's perfectly normal for a region to have multiple champions." Ruby wagged his finger proudly. "Hoenn has both Master Wallace and Steven."
"I see…" Sapphire nodded thoughtfully.
Meanwhile, Lu Ye tried his best to maintain a composed expression as he licked his lips.
"It's… really Jirachi?"
"Just a guess," Steven replied. "If it truly is Jirachi's meteorite, my goal is to return it safely to the stars."
Lu Ye rubbed his chin.
With Steven here, there wasn't much to worry about. Besides, Cynthia might even show up later.
"Where's the meteorite? Can I take a look?"
Steven nodded, pulling out a Poké Ball. A flash of red light revealed a Beldum, which held a jagged meteorite in its clawed end and handed it to Steven.
"You can try sensing it," Steven said, offering the meteorite to Lu Ye. "Perhaps it might awaken."
Lu Ye froze momentarily.
Legend had it that Jirachi, who awakens once every thousand years, could only be roused by a pure heart and song…
This isn't something you can just summon, right?
Taking the meteorite, Lu Ye observed it closely, but it remained unresponsive. He immediately pouted.
"This thing is definitely fake!"
Even someone as pure-hearted as me can't awaken it. How could it possibly be Jirachi?!
Steven chuckled. "Maybe it's just not the right time."
Behind them, Sapphire called out, "Mr. Steven, Teacher Lu! Let's go camping!"
"Tororo found a great spot nearby. We can fly there!"
"Tororo?" Lu Ye was puzzled. "Which Pokémon is that?"
Before he could finish, a resonant cry echoed through the forest.
From a distant, steep peak, a Tropius flapped its massive wings, slicing through the sea of clouds.
With powerful gusts of wind, the Tropius landed gracefully, lowering its long neck and nuzzling affectionately against Sapphire.
"Haunter?"
Gastly's eyes lit up as it floated under Tropius's neck and yanked off a bunch of bananas.
Everyone: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
"Haunter! (￣～￣)"
Gastly munched on a banana and casually handed one to Lu Ye.
"Oh, thanks."
Lu Ye took it, peeled it, and took a bite before suddenly realizing something was off.
"Go apologize right now, Haunter!"
Realizing its mistake, Gastly plucked two more bunches of bananas and handed them to Ruby and Steven…
Tropius crouched meekly on the ground, teary-eyed, too scared to speak.
Sapphire laughed and patted Tropius on the head.
"It's alright. I love eating Tororo's fruit too!"
Steven handed his banana back to Gastly and smiled.
"Let's set up camp first."
"Haunter! (*⊙~⊙)"
---
This was Lu Ye's first time riding a Flying-type Pokémon.
The wind roared past, and although Tropius's wings blocked much of it, the gusts still made it hard to keep his eyes open.
"Teacher Lu! We're almost there!"
Ruby, wearing goggles and holding onto Tropius's long neck, shouted as he turned his head. Then, he froze.
Lu Ye was wearing sunglasses, lying flat on Tropius's back in a turtle-like posture, his expression calm as he stared ahead.
"This reduces wind resistance, you idiot!"
Sapphire mimicked Lu Ye's position exactly, yelling, "Watch out for the Pidgeotto up ahead!"
Ruby tilted his head, dodging the Pidgeotto that zoomed by, though a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.
Teacher Lu really is a professional!
Steven, who had been standing upright, bent down after seeing the other three lying flat.
"What are you all doing?" he asked curiously.
"Imitating Teacher Lu," the couple replied in unison.
Steven nodded thoughtfully but remained puzzled.
And what exactly is Teacher Lu imitating?
---
Tropius landed on a rocky peak surrounded by broadleaf forest. Primeapes and Aipoms darted through the trees, and a clear stream flowed nearby.
Tropius folded its wings and approached the stream to drink. Sapphire leapt off its back, cheering.
"We're here!"
Still wearing his sunglasses, Lu Ye stepped onto the gravel. His legs wobbled but managed to hold steady.
How could anyone willingly ride on Flying-types like this?!
Taking a deep breath, Lu Ye made a solemn vow.
From now on, every Flying-type saddle must have a safety rail!
"Teacher Lu, are you alright?" Steven asked.
"I'm fine… just my first time riding one of these."
Steven nodded knowingly.
No wonder he used a prone riding style. Teacher Lu must have ridden high-speed Pokémon like Aerodactyl or Salamence before.
"I'll set up the tent!" Sapphire volunteered.
"Ruby, go scout the area!"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it." Ruby sighed as he stood.
Sapphire's Blaziken helped pitch the tent quickly.
Lu Ye glanced at the meteorite in Steven's hand.
"What if it's fake?"
"Even if it is," Steven said with a smile, "this trip would still be a pleasant journey."
Lu Ye nodded.
This was meant to be a vacation. Jirachi was just a potential side quest...
---
As dusk fell, the setting sun bathed the shimmering water in golden hues, and the clouds turned a fiery red.
Eevee dozed off on Lu Ye's shoulder, its tail swaying gently.
Squirtle practiced its moves in the stream.
Gastly busied itself picking fruit from Tropius...
"Haunter!" Gastly held an armful of fruit, nodding in satisfaction.
Tropius, teary-eyed, remembered its trainer's warnings and dared not complain.
Lu Ye lay on the cool gravel, arms behind his head, gazing at the sky.
Steven sat cross-legged, holding the meteorite, studying it intently. Suddenly, he smiled.
"If it awakens now, it might even make it for dinner."
"I'll handle dinner," Lu Ye offered with a grin. "Cooking is one of my strong suits."
Steven nodded and retrieved a harmonica from his suit pocket.
A red flash of light released a gleaming silver Metagross, whose crimson eyes half-closed as its trainer leaned against it.
A serene melody flowed from the harmonica.
As the twilight deepened, a sudden water spout erupted from the stream, shattering a rock into pieces. Squirtle struck a triumphant bodybuilding pose.
Meanwhile, the entire stream swirled into a chaotic vortex.
Raindrops splattered everywhere, as if it were pouring.
With dripping bangs, Lu Ye wore a complex expression.
Steven, who had narrowly avoided the splash, asked, "Are you okay, Teacher Lu?"
"Squirtle!" Lu Ye growled through gritted teeth.
"Squirtle! (≧ω≦)/" Squirtle happily raised its little paw.
No need to thank me, Master. It's all part of my duty!
Sitting on a rock, swinging her legs, Sapphire smiled warmly at the scene.
"Teacher Lu and his Pokémon have such a close bond."
Suddenly, Sapphire froze.
"Mr. Steven!" she called out.
"Did you hear something?"